In a significant political shakeup, Molly Woon, the elections director of Oregon, has tendered her resignation ahead of potential dismissal by the soon-to-be Secretary of State, Tobias Read.
The Federalist reported that Molly Woon's resignation comes amid scandals, including the discovery that over 300 noncitizens were registered to vote in Oregon.
Woon's departure, effective January 14, 2025, marks the culmination of a series of problems involving voter registration errors. These issues surfaced publicly over recent months and have caused considerable concern among election officials and the public.
Tobias Read, the current state treasurer and a member of the Democratic Party, won the November election, securing his position as the next Secretary of State. He is set to take over from the incumbent, LaVonne Griffin-Valade. The transitions come at a time of widespread alterations in the secretary of state's executive ranks.
Alongside Woon, several other top officials at the secretary of state’s office, including Deputy Secretary of State Cheryl Myers, Chief of Staff Ben Morris, Legislative Director Kathy Wai, and Audits Director Kip Memmott, have also announced their resignations.
This extensive administrative turnover underscores the gravity of the registration issues and the anticipated new direction under Read’s leadership.
Before assuming the role of elections director in January 2023, Molly Woon had a significant background in political administration, serving as deputy director of the Democrat Party of Oregon from 2018 to 2020. Her experience was seen as a valuable asset to the secretary of state's office when she first took on her role.
However, Woon's tenure was soon overshadowed by several controversies, notably involving the state’s "motor voter" system.
An audit revealed that more than 1,600 potentially ineligible voters had been incorrectly registered, a flaw dating back to at least 2021.
The problems with Oregon’s motor voter system became pronounced when, between June 2021 and October 2024, the state DMV processed over 54,600 voter registrations for individuals whose citizenship status was marked as "unknown."
This system, designed to streamline voter registration through DMV interactions, came under intense examination following these revelations.
The Institute for Responsive Government (IRG), an oversight entity under the umbrella of Arabella Advisors, unearthed this debacle. IRG’s investigation into the motor voter system was instrumental in highlighting the registration of more than 300 noncitizens.
In addition to the registration errors, Molly Woon faced scrutiny regarding her handling of an investigation into a large political contribution from an FTX executive, who donated $500,000 to the state Democrat Party in 2022. Woon did not step aside from the investigation, which raised concerns about the impartiality of the inquiry.
Further complicating her tenure, Woon appeared in a promotional video for the secretary of state’s office, where she advocated for the ease and security of Oregon’s automatic voter registration system.
Her comments in the video, emphasizing the accessibility and inclusiveness of registration, now contrast starkly with the issues unfolded under her watch.
Oregon's electoral system is currently facing its most significant test in years, challenging the trust and efficiency of the processes governing democratic elections.
The revelations and subsequent top-level resignations signify a critical moment of reconstruction and reassessment for the state’s election administration.
As the new administration prepares to step in, there is an acute focus on revising practices and enhancing oversight to restore confidence among voters. The transition marks a pivotal period for Tobias Read and his team as they confront these inherited issues head-on.
Woon’s resignation does not merely signify a personal or professional setback but encapsulates broader challenges facing election systems nationwide.
With an evolving political landscape and increasing scrutiny of voter registration processes, Oregon's example may serve as a pivotal lesson for other states in maintaining the integrity and trust of their electoral systems.